990117sst

Tikitiki a hit for Te Reo Maori

The Sunday Star-Times (Auckland)
01/17/99
Page 4
1 non-Xena graphic

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COMMENTARY
Actor who has appeared on Xena and Hercules stars on an all Maori TV show.

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   NGAMARU RAERINO stars on TV One at 8am every Sunday morning, but perhaps only
children up to 10 will recognise him. Ngamaru, the curriculum leader for Te Reo
me Nga Tikanga in the Bachelor of Maori Studies at the Auckland Institute of
Technology, is one of three presenters on Tikitiki, New Zealand's only Maori
language television programme for preschoolers.  

   "The programme is completely in Maori," he said. "My role is as an old Maori
storyteller. I've really enjoyed Tikitiki because there has never been anything
like this for kohanga reo wholly in Maori." Tikitiki will explore three themes
over 18 episodes -- te ngahere (the bush), te moana (the sea) and taku whanau
(my family). Ngamaru has also had roles in Pio, A Letter to Blanchy, Xena and
Hercules.

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